For years, motorists eastbound on SR 104 from downtown Edmonds have been forced to navigate a series of confusing lane endings and forced merges where the state highway merges with 5th Avenue near the Welcome to Downtown Edmonds sign. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has just completed a traffic project to address the issue.
“We’ve had a situation where two lanes of traffic coming up SR 104 were forced to quickly merge with traffic on 5th Avenue, temporarily creating three traffic lanes,” explained City of Edmonds Acting Public Works Director Phil Williams. “But a few hundred yards beyond the merge, the right lane ends, forcing traffic to squeeze into two lanes. This can be particularly problematic when a ferry unloads, sending more than 200 cars along this route. It gets congested and confusing particularly for out-of-towners, and even to those familiar with our roads.”
To address this, WSDOT crews have added markings to the right lane on SR 104 well before the 5th Avenue merge. They direct traffic to move left and merge into a single lane before 5th Avenue and SR 104 blend into a single roadway. This lane then becomes the right lane on 5th Avenue as the two routes join, creating a smooth merge with no need for abrupt lane changes.
In addition, the project enhanced the existing pedestrian crosswalk across SR 104 to 5th Avenue by adding a contrasting color “safety box” in what had formerly been the SR 104 right lane. This safety box is ringed with bollards to protect pedestrians from vehicles that might stray into the now-closed traffic lane. This design also allows pedestrians to cross one lane instead of the two they were forced to navigate in the former configuration.
Great to see the new increased pedestrian protections popping up around town. Our family loves exploring the town on foot and on bike — thanks to the City for their efforts to make this safer and more accessible!
40 years ago, while running up 104 on the narrow adjacent sidewalk, I was stopped by EPD. I was told it was “freeway access” and not for pedestrians. lol. I applaud the improve pedestrian safety and increased accessibility throughout Edmonds.
“For years, motorists eastbound on SR 104 from downtown Edmonds have been forced to navigate a series of confusing lane endings and forced merges where the state highway merges with 5th Avenue”
Eastbound 104 was two lanes until 5th. How was this confusing? I’m not sure reducing two lanes of exiting ferry traffic on 104 to one, prior to the merge with 5th, is an improvement for traffic. After the merge with 5th, three lanes existed for a 1000’? until it became two at the top. Plenty of time to merge right. Sometimes people stayed in the furthest right lane too long, but I’ve never seen a back up of consequence at that spot. I suspect that will change where 104 becomes one lane before 5th.
Just wait until our blundering Woke leaders turn the whole thing into a big bike lane at our cost, just like they are doing with the Levy Lid that will bankrupt hard working American Seniors. Repulsive!
Janice –
I sincerely doubt that will happen. I’ve never ever seen any bicyclists travel up Highway 104 from the ferry. The bicyclists I do see travel via 9th/100th and then one of the East/West streets.
Here goes Janice again using her favorite word “woke” which she doesn’t even know how to use correctly. Janice, you criticize and awful lot and rarely offer helpful solutions. The rest of the community is grateful for any safety improvements for pedestrians. We need more ticket cameras for people speeding into downtown on 5th and on Sunset out of town despite the mph light or just park a cop there and help make up for the debt lol.
I agree. It wasn’t “broke”. Seems like now it may be.
Personally, I think this is a long overdue improvement. I’ve never liked that far right lane, so I’m glad to see it no longer a travel lane.
Drivers will just need to stop speeding up that hill and pay attention to the signs and new lane markings.
The same issue you believe existed, will occur sooner as two lanes become one before 5th.